It was a sad moment for all Singaporeans, Singaporeans from all walks of life, from every generation.

It has been 7 days since our state flag flew at half-mast as a respect to Mr. Lee.

For the past 7 days, especially during the times when Mr. Lee lies in state at the Parliament House from Wednesday to Saturday, it had showcased the effects and influences Mr. Lee has on the people. As of statistics reported on Channel NewsAsia at 1.48am on Sunday (29 March), nearly 1.5 million people turned up at the Padang and various Community sites to pay tribute to the late founding father. Out of which, 442, 297 people has visited the Parliament House.

Everyone understands the fact that for without the contributions and sacrifices of Mr. Lee over his political years, there will be no Singapore we know and are staying in today.

There’s no need for me to reiterate what Mr. Lee has done for the country and for the people. Everyone knows it, deep within their own hearts and minds.

I myself was also present at both the Teck Ghee CC tribute site, SGH tribute site and the Parliament House to pay respect.

While I went to pay my tributes with BPang, Junwei and Hong Kiat at Teck Ghee CC, I stood in front of his portrait with my eyes closed.

I reflected upon his contributions he offered to the nation. It had not been an easy path. Economic prosperity, education opportunity, inter-racial harmony and happiness among the people. These have been taken for granted easier, especially by the citizens of my generation. Such successes are definitely not acts of coincidences.

In the lyrics of ‘We Are Singapore’,

There was a time, when people said that Singapore won’t make it, but we did. There was a time, when troubles seemed too much for us to take, but we did. We built a nation strong and free, reaching out together, for peace and harmony.

As this moment, it came to my enlightenment that the sake of the future of our nation and the future generation, we cannot afford to be complacent.

In the words of the late Mr. Lee,

“What I fear is complacency. When things always become better, people tend to want more for less work.”

We have to continue the mindset of determination and assiduous, left behind by Mr. Lee and the pioneer generation of citizens.

It is this mindset that shaped the country, from a ‘back alley’ of the British colony in South-east Asia to the front runner in international affairs, both politically and economically. Being the only country capable of turning its own fortune around, his passing reminds us that that’s not the end of progression. It means, a new chapter begins, today and from this moment onwards.

I knew, I couldn’t let him down, let alone the previous generations of Singaporeans who had helped build the country.

I bowed thrice.

The first bow: represents my promise to the pioneer generation and Mr. Lee to continue their legacy and to carry forward the status of prosperity and stability of this country. We CANNOT afford to fall backwards. There’s only one direction for us to head, and that is, forward.

The second bow: represents my promise to my generation. We will all work hard, hand in hand, in our respective industries to bring the status of the country higher than it is now. We will all safeguard our national interest at all times, pushing aside personal gains for the progression of the nation.

The third bow: represents my promise to the future generation of Singaporeans. We will protect the nation and to hand the country to our children and grandchildren in the same state as when we are being handled or even better. Keep the country going and allow the future generations to benefit as more, if not, more than we did.

As I raised up from my final bow, I took a deep breathe, trying to contain my emotions.

I gave him a salute, signifying my highest form of respect given to an individual.